Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has officially entered the 2024 presidential race by filing paperwork with the Federal Election Commission. He is expected to make a formal

announcement during a town hall at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire later today. Despite being rejected by the state in his 2016 presidential run, Christie sees New Hampshire as a crucial part of his 2024 strategy.

Differentiating himself from other Republican candidates, Christie, 60, has been openly critical of former President Donald Trump, the frontrunner of the party. He accuses Trump of undermining democracy with baseless claims of election fraud and attempting to overturn his loss. Christie has also criticized other GOP candidates for failing to challenge Trump, comparing the former president to the villain Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter series. While Christie supported Trump in the past, he withdrew his support after Trump's election fraud claims.

Despite his direct approach and willingness to confront Trump, Christie enters the 2024 race with lower support compared to other candidates. National polls of Republican voters have shown him receiving no more than 3% support thus far.

Before serving as New Jersey's governor for two terms, Christie was appointed as the U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey by former President George W. Bush. He gained a reputation for his tough stance on corruption during his tenure. Christie's specific campaign focus and key issues for the 2024 race are yet to be fully outlined.

This is not Christie's first presidential bid, as he ran for president in 2016 but dropped out after a sixth-place finish in New Hampshire's primary. His strategy this time centers on winning over New Hampshire voters, which could provide an advantage in the crowded field of GOP candidates.

Christie's campaign pitch in 2016 was "Telling It Like It Is," and he is approaching the 2024 race with a similar approach. Presenting himself as a no-nonsense candidate who is unafraid to challenge Trump, Christie has consistently criticized the former president in interviews and on social media. From scrutinizing Trump's legal issues to accusing him of being influenced by Vladimir Putin, Christie aims to position himself as a straight-talking alternative to Trump's style of politics. Photo by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia commons.